01 PARTICIPATION DES JEUNES

ANNUAL/REPORT/2013

1 summary 01. YOUTH PARTICIPATION European Elections: LoveYouthFuture League of Young Voters InterRegional Youth Cooperation Post 2015 European Youth Capital Vote@16 Citizenship education 02. STRONG YOUTH ORGANISATIONS Funding for youth work Youth Work Policy AR Youth work Capacity Building 2013 Membership Growth Project Volunteering 03. AUTONOMY & INCLUSION Employment Quality Internships and Apprenticeships Youth Rights and Anti-discrimination Education Mobility 04. Institutional Relations Council of United Nations 05. COMMUNICATION Media relations Publications Online presence YO! Fest 06. INCLUSIVE PLATFORM Membership Services Working structures 07. FINANCES 08. BOARD MEMBERS 09. SECRETARIAT 10. MEMBER ORGANISATIONS A CHALLENGING Words by Peter Matjašič, President Giuseppe Porcaro, YEAR! Secretary-General

Since 2007, the Youth Forum has been warning European Governments and Institutions about AR 2013 the emergence of a lost generation and it has denounced the lack of strategic and strong action to invest in youth. In 2013, the Forum still insisted on this simple but fundamental point. We continued to raise the voice, both by supporting our members active at the grassroots level as well as by claiming the rights of millions of young people at the highest political level.

It was one of the most intense years ever for the Forum and its members, with the negotiations with the , the Commission and the Council over the Multiannual Financial Framework as well as on the new Programmes at their peak. In this context we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the EU Youth Programmes and succeeded to get both Commissioner Vassiliou and the Chair of the CULT committee of the European Parliament stating, at the YO!Fest, their agreement on a separate chapter for youth in the Erasmus+ programme as well the continuation of the administrative grants for youth organisations.

5 We strengthened our presence and visibility on youth after the unsatisfactory results of the Ministerial Conference in employment issues, especially with direct participation of the St. Petersbourg last year. Youth Forum during the Heads of State Conference on Youth All those achievements and challenges are only part of the Employment in Paris, in November. enormous work we did during the year. We achieved all We pushed for our Youth Employment agenda at the highest this thanks to the volunteer commitment of our Board, the level: for quality jobs, internships and the need for a true professional work of our Secretariat and the support of our commitment on mobilisation of resources for the Youth Member Organisations. Guarantee. In the following pages you can read more about what we We continued to prepare for the European Elections in 2014. did to achieve greater youth participation, stronger youth We launched the League of Young Voters with a spectacular organisations and to increase youth autonomy and inclusion in flight of a hot air balloon taking off the Esplanade of the Europe, which are our key goals for the current work-plan and European Parliament in the presence of President Barroso. strategic priorities cycle. We also launched our LoveYouthFuture Pledges to ask the For the first time our workplan includes Critical Success candidates for the next Parliament to commit to a more youth Factors for our advocacy goals. This provides a more friendly European Union. accountable system of monitoring the achievements of the Forum. In this report the results towards such Success Factors At global level we congratulated the appointment of the UN for the first year of that plan cycle have been highlighted. Secretary-General Special Envoy on Youth and started direct channels of communication with him. Moreover, a continued Enjoy reading! follow-up of affairs is in progress thanks to good cooperation with the Advisory Council on Youth especially concerning the next steps on raising the Youth Rights Agenda

6 7 01 YOUTH PARTICIPATION

In preparation for the 2014 European Elections, two campaigns were launched - the League of Young Voters whose aim is to ensure a youth- focused campaign and LoveYouthFuture, which aims to ensure that Youth Forum priorities are endorsed by candidates. During the year, the Forum guaranteed a legacy for its 2012 campaign of Vote at 16, maintaining the debate on the public agenda and it continued to follow national policy developments. A new Policy Paper on Citizenship Education will guide the Forum's discussion on this topic in the future. The Forum's global cooperation continued through ICMYO and other platforms, while the Forum focused on the post-2015 process, making a path for the European youth voice to be heard. Lastly, the Youth Forum awarded the title of European Youth Capital 2016 to Ganja, - many congratulations to them and good luck to European Youth Capital 2014 - .

9 Cra itical Success F ctor Eur opean ElecTIONs: LoveYouthFuture

The Critical Success Factor also aiming to do this. Launched in October 2013, The campaign was launched foreseen for this Chapter •The Youth Forum the LoveYouthFuture Pledges on 15 October in the European of the Work Plan is: LoveYouthFuture campaign, show how European election Parliament with a high-level launched in October 2013, candidates can love Europe’s Panel Debate on the topic A strong European initiative to which encourages European young people and give them a of Youth and the European strengthen youth participation Election candidates to future. The 11 Pledges cover Elections. At this event, a in decision-making processes take 11 Pledges for Youth, vital topics for young people Votewatch-Youth Forum report at all levels and inclusion of a ensuring they are endorsed such as quality education, was also launched, analysing chapter on intergenerational as a youth-friendly candidate. youth rights, protections the top-10 votes of the justice in the programmes of Candidates who sign the for young people, youth European Parliament on youth political parties. Pledges are referenced on the employment, strong youth civil policy issues. LoveYouthFuture website and society, youth investment, free The Youth Forum activities identified by "my Pledge to movement, inclusive democracy The Youth Forum set up a task- aimed at ensuring this include: youth" logo in their campaign. and balanced budgets. The force on the European Elections • The launch in May 2013 of •Structured dialogue continued LoveYouthFuture campaign in order to build cooperation the League of Young Voters, to give a direct voice to the focuses on encouraging MEP between members on European with a strong commitment EU to young people through candidates to sign these Election campaigns. from the 5 main European Europe. Pledges - if they commit at political parties to engage least to 6, they are listed as Outreach continued throughout with the platform and to supporters on the website and the year with the main European take the issues raised by the get a logo “my pledge to youth” Political Parties and the Political League into account in their for use in their campaign. Party Youth Organisations campaigns. The 26 national MEP candidates are already members of the Youth Forum to Leagues across the EU are able to sign the Pledges in 10 brief them on the campaign and languages, with more planned explore possible cooperation and for 2014. involvement.

10 11 League of Young Voters

The League of Young Voters political programmes. The supported the League in Finally, the League also was launched at the YO!Fest website is available in all EU the organisation of several continued to prepare for in May 2013, in the presence official languages. elections-focused debates its main activities of the of President of the European at the Yo!Fest and a special campaign of 2014, which will Commission Barroso, as a Several capacity building youth-focused Vote Match tool include training for young non-partisan and independent events were organised was developed by Votewatch. candidates, the European source of information for to support member In order to provide it with an Youth Event 2014, and young people and as an organisations in getting evidence-based approach, importantly, all the campaigns umbrella framework for involved. The League will cover the League partnered with run by member organisations all youth-related electoral nearly all EU countries and, to the International Institute of the Youth Forum across campaigns. date, 26 branches have been for Democracy and Electoral Europe. approved and 6 international Assistance for a study The official website (www. youth campaigns will be LYV looking at the implications youngvoters.eu) was launched co-branded. of continued youth in its first phase. New tools disengagement at European aimed at informing young The League continues to elections and issuing a set of voters will be added in the strengthen itself as a separate recommendations, finalised in first months of 2014, such as legal entity and as an alliance January 2014. a web-experience that guides of NGOs working on young users through the European voters, each bringing their elections and a comparison own expertise to the project. tool that contrasts young The International Debate users’ views with those of Education Association (IDEA)

12 13 InterRegional Youth Cooperation

The Youth Forum's mission as a more unified voice for Cape Verde. A Euro-Arab and highly relevant topic of human in developing cooperation youth-led organisations at Mediterranean Youth Leaders rights and youth participation. between youth globally global level. A World Youth meeting was organised to A meeting of the Euro-Latin continued during 2013 through Conference (WYC) is scheduled develop cooperation and American and Caribbean ICMYO and various youth for May 2014 in Sri Lanka dialogue during the first Youth Forum (FEULAC) took platforms, in developing the and the Youth Forum attended Mediterranean University on place on 25 September in World Youth Conference and the first task-force meeting in Youth and Global Citizenship Mollina, Spain, and was also also through the Universities September, pushing for the in Tunisia (1-8 September). attended by the Forum. Lastly, on Youth and Development. participation and decisive In 2014, the Universities will the Forum worked with the input of regional youth examine the overall theme of European Commission to ICMYO is the International platforms. “Youth Opportunities". develop an EU-China Seminar Coordination Meeting of Youth on Youth Entrepreneurship, Organisations (ICMYO) and A number of Universities on Meanwhile, the Forum which was hosted in meets regularly to discuss Youth and Development were developed its bilateral in November. One percent global youth issues. held throughout the year under relationships with other youth of the Youth Forum's budget the joint theme of “Democratic platforms. The second meeting is yearly granted to worthy This network was strengthened Citizenship”. The Forum of the Africa-Europe Youth projects globally and in 2013, in September with an developed the programme of Platform was organised in the Solidarity Fund supported agreement during its meeting the University on Youth and early November in Brussels - projects by YMCA, Pax Romana to develop stronger ties Development, which was held this was especially important in Nairobi and by the Latin between members and the in September in Mollina, Spain. as in April 2014 the Africa- American Youth Forum (FLAJ). adoption of a document The Youth Forum also lead Europe Heads of State setting the guiding principles an EU-Africa training at the Summit will also take place of the network. The ultimate African University on Youth in Brussels. The 4th Euro- aim is to develop the network and Development in May in Arab Youth Forum took place in Qatar in December (4-8 December) discussing the

14 15 Post 2015 Euroa opean Y uth C pital

The Youth Forum, through during the 14th University on The European Youth Capital from the media. The jury not its engagement in events, Youth and Development. title is an award given by the only decided on the shortlist consultations and activities, aims Youth Forum for cities that and the final winner, they also to ensure a strong European During the UN General Assembly demonstrate the value of youth give invaluable feedback to the youth voice in the post-2015 in September, the Youth Forum participation at the local level. shortlisted applicants at each development framework. The participated in the High- In 2013, Ganja, Azerbaijan stage of the process. Forum organised a European level event on the Millennium was awarded the title for 2016 Parliament Policy Debate Development Goals (MDGs) and following the decision of the This year, the Youth Forum (Brussels, 27 June) on “The Post-2015 Development Agenda, jury. Badajoz (Spain), introduced the novelty of a Youth MDGs after the MDGs: will along with several meetings (Ireland), La Laguna (Spain), Focus Group, which gave specific young people be involved after with UN entities as well as Varna () and feedback during the application 2015?” featuring MEPs and holding side-events at the Open () were shortlisted for process to the six shortlisted around 50 representatives from Working Groups on Development the title. cities, in addition to the jury’s different EU Institutions and indicators and Youth Employment feedback. This focus group Non-Governmental Organisations and a strategy meeting for The Youth Forum convened comprises young people from with a keynote speech by the UN stakeholders on Post-2015 which the jury which included the different Youth Capitals. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy received wide coverage. representatives from the EU Aiming to provide a clearer on Youth, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi. Institutions, the Youth Forum, link between the European The Forum has conducted a To ensure its members’ interest groups representing and local levels, as well as number of training session, both involvement in the process, a cities and the public and private to give more visibility to its at its COMEM in Spring and number of briefing notes on sector, including a representative members, the Youth Forum during the UN General Assembly the Post-2015 process were before the Open Working distributed through the Courier Groups, related to education and for members throughout the year. employment to help members These aim to give information influence the goals that will affect about key developments in the them. The Forum also provided a process and opportunities for training session on Post-2015 as input. part of the Training for Trainers on Global Education and Youth

16 17 Structured dialogue initiated a Youth Fair which to the Commission and In cooperation with the Team and social rights, and the was successfully held in Council following up on Presidency Ireland-Lithuania- importance of securing young November 2013 in conjunction different aspects of the and the European people’s access to quality work with great cooperation from political questions. A debate Commission, the Forum and quality internships, among European Youth Capital 2014 was held between members contributed to the organisation other topics. Consultations (Thessaloniki). Furthermore, the on the topic of Vote@16 at of two successful consultations and conferences also clearly Forum continues its efforts to the Yo!Fest in cooperation on the topic of social inclusion, stressed the need for the EU reinforce the political recognition with the International Debate the results of which were and Member States to work and impact of the title. This Association (IDEA) to provide discussed during the EU Youth more across policy areas to work will continue in 2014. training on debating skills to the Conferences in Ireland (Dublin) bring concrete improvements participants and raise awareness and Lithuania (Vilnius, 9-12 to young people’s lives. These on this specific topic. It also September 2013). Now that strong messages were passed Vote@16 provided a space for information working groups are active in all to the Ministers responsible for and networking for members. EU Member States, the Forum youth gathering in the Council The Youth Forum aimed in 2013 The Forum has also highlighted particularly supported the of the EU. to ensure the continuation of the significant developments contribution of International As the chair of the European the momentum from last year’s on this topic at national level, Non Governmental Youth Steering Committee, the body European Parliament Written including in the UK, Ireland, Organisations to the process, in charge of facilitating the Declaration on lowering the Malta and Norway. Moreover, which resulted in an increase whole structured dialogue, the voting age to 16. Forum representatives took part in their participation to the Forum also cooperated with the in panel discussions on the consultations. incoming Team Presidency - Therefore, the authors of the topic of vote at 16 in Malta and Through this participatory Latvia-Luxemburg to ensure Declaration have recently Catalonia, both places where the process, young people across the continuity of the process submitted Written Questions issue is gaining visibility. Europe were able to highlight and a smooth transition to the need for free education, the fourth cycle of Structured for the adoption of the Anti- Dialogue. Active preparations Discrimination Directive as (July 2014-December 2015) well as equal access to welfare were and continue to be

18 19 01 PARTICIPATION carried out, especially drawing an event during the European attention towards consulting Youth Week (Brussels 27-29 young people on the upcoming May 2013) and a conference DES cycle’s priority. In addition, reviewing the process (Brussels, the Forum worked closely with November 26-27, 2013), with JEUNES the European Commission the aim to improve structured and helped to organise both dialogue. Citizenship education

The Youth Forum Policy Paper and suggests that citizenship on Citizenship Education was education could be a solution adopted in the Autumn COMEM, for addressing this divide. following input from the Youth The Policy Paper sets out Forum Board and membership. a number of actions which the Youth Forum and other The Paper addresses the divide stakeholders are encouraged to between democratic institutions, take to fully utilise citizenship elected representatives, and education to ensure fuller youth political parties on the one participation. hand and citizens on the other

20 21 02 Strong Youth Organisations

During 2013 the Forum committed to promote the financial recognition and the capacity building of youth organisations putting in place advocacy actions to ensure sustained funding and continued training to empower youth organisations. The Forum achieved great results negotiating the new EU Programme Erasmus+, ensuring an increased and separate budget for Youth and the presence of the Administrative Grants. Moreover, support was provided to the process of strengthening National Youth Councils and to empower youth organisations to reach out, to create safe environments and include more diverse young people outside of their membership. Extensive advocacy work was implemented for the recognition of the impact of youth work and volunteering in society, as well as Volunteer Time Contribution as eligible co-funding in European programmes.

22 23

Cra itical Success F ctor Funding for youth work

The Critical Success Factor and youth sectors. 2013 has been an important European External Action foreseen for this Chapter • the European Youth Foundation year for funding of youth Service funds as a support for in the Work Plan is: of the Council of Europe organisations since the activities taking place outside proposed simplified structural new Multiannual Financial the European Union, make the More recognition and more and grants for the period 2014-2015 Framework (MFF) and the budget available even bigger. In better targeted administrative in which the volunteer-time Erasmus+ have been approved total this means that there is funding for youth organisations, contribution is recognised as co- and will ensure funding for increased budget for education, through the development of funding. On this matter, relevant many youth organisations training and youth sectors - new and current European steps forward were moved at the around Europe. one of the only sectors where Union and Council of Europe EU level as well. budget was increased. financial programmes and other During Spring the final instruments (legal basis). The Youth Forum has Many of the Youth Forum claims followed up on the negotiations of the new in the field were endorsed Erasmus+ programme took This CSF has been relevantly but there is still challenging European Council’s place. The Forum was able endorsed thanks to the fact that: work to do with particular decision on the MFF to influence the negotiations • the new Erasmus+ Programme reference to the recognition and the Erasmus+ positively; for example the includes the support to the of youth work at all societal administrative support for administrative functioning programme’s levels, to more accessible funds the INGYOs. The Forum of youth organisations, an negotiations as well as for youth organisations and organised a high-level debate increased and separate to the recognition of youth the programme guide on the programme during budget for Youth, along with organisations as key actors in development. its YO!Fest (31 May) as part the possibility of creating the civil society sector and in of the most visible advocacy synergies and cross-sectorial society as a whole. The budget for the Erasmus+ actions. During the summer projects among various sectors, programme, 14 billion euros the negotiations came to an including education, training for the 7-year period, plus end and the institutions moved the part dedicated to it from towards the formal adoption of

2424 25 the programme. The original the only stakeholders invited the possibility of creating within the membership and proposal from the Commission to contribute by providing synergies and cross-sectorial developing tools for increasing was unsatisfactory, but after 2 their comments to a draft projects among various sectors, financial sustainability of youth years of advocacy by the Forum version of the programme. The including education, training organisations. with its members and partners, Forum launched a consultation and youth sectors. With the aim of financial we were able to improve the process within the membership, sustainability of youth programme significantly - this compiled the input from the In order to support the work organisations, an ad hoc task includes a separate youth membership and sent them to of the Youth Forum in the force was launched to explore chapter, a separate budget line the Commission. Based on the field of funding, the funding alternative sources of funding (10%) and operating grants for consultation process the Forum working group has met and for youth organisations, youth organisations. continues to follow up this developed their action plan including funds diversification process and aims to include the for their mandate. strategies and income In early 2013, the European needs of its members into the generating activities. A toolkit Commission started to guide. The programme guide One of the many tasks following on the matter will be made draft the programme guide was published in December the Erasmus+ programme public for members in 2014. for the new programme. 2013 and many inputs guide was investigating The Forum demanded to provided by the Forum were funding resource diversification be involved in the process included. The new Erasmus+ from the beginning, but the Programme includes support to Commission was reluctant. the administrative functioning of youth organisations, an Despite this situation, the increased and separate Forum and its members were budget for Youth, along with

2626 27

Youth Work Policy

The Forum is aiming to develop relevant and specific discussions and assessments Often, our members know the gather more knowledge policies in line with the of the different contributions. reality of organisations better about the youth policy reality that their organisation Another key area where the than we do, this is therefore legislation landscape is facing. The Forum also working group has been an invaluable input in order across Europe. used examples from its own involved is the shaping of our to make us stronger as a experience in developing other capacity building events. platform. Therefore it has been collecting policies as well as inviting an youth laws from European external advisor. countries in order to have a coherent database of youth- The Youth Forum has been Yoa uth work C pacity Building related legislation, which would working on making its efforts The activities under the area of the working area was guided by serve in providing proper when it comes to Youth Work youth work capacity building this new approach. understanding and analysis more coherent and stronger aim to provide better and more In line with the work plan’s about the situation in Europe. by the development of a new sustainable support to youth specific focus on the Balkans, The database will support the Policy Paper on the working organisations and national youth the Forum organised two work of the Forum as well as area. The Forum started a councils. In 2013 the Youth country-specific sustainability its members. long and inclusive process in order to ensure that the topic Forum worked towards making training sessions for national its capacity building efforts youth councils: in and The Youth Forum organised was thoroughly discussed more coherent. The Forum has in Macedonia. Both events training for members on how to within the membership. Two developed three areas where focused on strategic planning develop policies from a youth consultations took place we work on capacity building: for the organisations. When it work perspective. The event with our membership: one strategic planning, policy comes to engaging on strategic aimed to improve the capacity online and one at the Autumn development and advocacy. focus, the Forum involved the of our members to develop COMEM. All these elements require national youth councils in a long policies from a theoretical constant engagement with the process that consists of firstly and a practical level. The The Youth Work Working Group membership, making umbrella conducting a survey of the views participating organisations has also been instrumental organisations more effective in of their membership on a variety started on a very broad level in shaping efforts in the advocating for youth rights, while of strategic questions. After this, and then went further and development of the paper. becoming a more relevant actor they developed concrete actions further in depth on how to The group has been engaged in the whole process through for their members. In 2013, all based on the event. The national

2828 29

youth councils then further The Forum also became more developed the strategic plans actively involved in the Eastern Imo pact of Y uth work before the final adoption by the Partnership Civil Society Forum membership as a whole. (EaP-CSF) process. The Forum’s The Polish National Youth interest is to strengthen the In line with the work plan the built bridges to another Council (PROM) has undergone voice of youth in the region Forum wanted to highlight sector that is traditionally very positive developments in and since the EaP-CSF shares the benefits youth work not work extensively the last year taking the step of this vision, there is room for a brings to our society. A explored: artists. The Forum applying for membership which growing partnership. challenge that our sector hired a team of filmmakers means that they are now no The Forum also conducted two faces generally is that who will travel around longer under the Youth Work support visits in 2013. Two visits many societal actors do not Europe, producing short Capacity Building portfolio of were organised to the Icelandic understand the value and clips to show the world what the Forum. Youth Council (LAEF) and the impact of youth work. we do, why we do it, and 2013 also saw the Forum Ukrainian Youth Forum (UYF). what the enormous impact is becoming increasingly engaged These visits were more focused Our sector continues to push on our society. These short in Eastern Europe and the on the internal workings of the for political and economic clips will be ready for viewing Caucasus. Firstly, the Forum organisations and aimed to work recognition of youth work, in 2014. organised an event where the on a more internal level. but this year the Forum also sustainability of youth work And finally, the Forum organised in the region was discussed. training addressed at national Regional national youth youth councils with the aim of councils as well as international them achieving better strategic non-governmental youth planning. As already noted, organisations were invited to the Forum sees effective and the event to discuss how their inclusive strategic planning as sustainability could be improved. fundamental to any umbrella The event’s conclusions will be organisation and therefore a the basis for a sustainability event strong focus was put on this. organised by the Forum in 2014.

3030 31

Membership Growth Project Volunteering

With the aim of empowering of the project two meetings The Youth Forum continues its of a United Nations Volunteers youth organisations to were organised with the aim advocacy for the Charter on Young Volunteers Programme reach out to, create safe of developing new ways of the Rights and Responsibilities and advocated for youth environments and include more thinking about the membership of Volunteers through the organisations to be at its centre. diverse young people outside and putting in place an development of an online their membership, with special observation phase as a basis resource on this topic The Erasmus Plus legal base attention to marginalised for the 2014 implementation. for volunteers, volunteer text supports the inclusion of and disadvantaged youth, Working with local branches organisations and decision- volunteer time as co-financing in 2013 the Youth Forum of MOs allowed the Forum makers – this is due to be in the form of contribution in implemented the first part to be more in contact with launched in early 2014. kind for grants. However, it of the Membership Growth grassroots youth organisations is very unclear how this will Project. The two year pilot and to understand the A task force, drawing from be implemented, especially project aims at working with challenges faced in recruiting members and outside partners through the structure of new local branches of MOs in new members while keeping was held in May to develop the grants under Erasmus Plus order to achieve qualitative the focus on the mission and structure of the website and grants. growth and diversification of priorities of each organisation create content. The European the membership base of the involved. In this way the Forum Parliament’s December Contacts are on-going between involved organisations. could provide focused support Report on Volunteering was the Youth Forum, its partners to the involved organisations an opportunity for it to renew and the Commission on this As a result of the selection through peer learning, ad hoc its commitment to rights for issue. The Joint Council on Youth process launched in Spring training and external experts volunteers. of the Council of Europe also 2013, the following MOs to develop specific strategies agreed in April to recognise were involved: Active, AEGEE, and methodologies aimed at The Parliament also supports the principle of volunteer YEU and YWCA. During the the empowerment of youth Youth Forum priorities over time contribution, a proposal first year of implementation organisations. issues such as volunteer initially proposed by the recognition, active citizenship, Advisory Council. A proposal is support frameworks, insurance therefore due on implementing & health care and the volunteer volunteer-time contribution in time contribution as co-funding. the European Youth Foundation The Youth Forum also followed system for structural grants for with interest the development the period 2014-2015.

3232 33 03 AUTONOMY & INCLUSION

During 2013 the Youth Forum has enhanced its efforts in advocating for stronger youth autonomy and inclusion with a coherent holistic approach encompassing different strands of advocacy work that led to several achievements and developments on the following issues: the right to equal access to quality education, both formal and non-formal; increased standards of access to the job market, including quality internships, a binding European youth guarantee, minimum wages, and support to entrepreneurship; the recognition of and improvement of access to youth rights, including the fight against multiple and age-based discrimination. Efforts to promote the right to mobility for young people, through sustained advocacy on visa and residence permit liberalisation, have been promoted as well.

3535 Employment

Advocacy work during 2013 started with the reaction to the European Commission’s ‘Youth Employment Package’ released in December 2012 and with intense lobby actions towards Critical Success Factor. the Permanent Representation in view of the adoption of the The Critical Success Factor foreseen Council Recommendation on the Youth Guarantee. After its adoption in February 2013, the Forum invested significant for this Chapter in the Work Plan is: efforts in building up relations with Member Organisations active in employment, through the 'Youth Employment Action' A strong European institutional initiative that will increase framework demonstrating on a European level that youth political and financial investment in youth employment. organisations are significant stakeholders in this field.

This CSF has been relevantly endorsed by the measures and In terms of the content of the final Recommendation on acts launched by the major EU institutions, namely: the EC the Youth Guarantee, the Forum was disappointed that its Communication “Moving Youth into Employment” (December recommendations for a €21 billion investment in the Youth 2012), the EC Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Guarantee, and the extension of the Youth Guarantee for all a Quality Framework for Traineeships (December 2013), the young people in Europe up to the age of 30 (as opposed to Council Recommendation on Youth Guarantee (February 2013) 25), were not part of the final Recommendation. and the EP report on “Tackling Youth Unemployment: possible ways out” (September 2013). However, the Forum's positions on the need for quality jobs, quality internships, the role of youth organisations and non- Many of the Youth Forum claims in the field were endorsed formal education for young people received wide cross-party but there is still challenging work to do with particular support which was reflected in the European Parliament regards to the promotion of quality jobs for youth, a bigger Resolution 'Tackling Youth Unemployment: Possible Ways Out', financial investment in jobs creation for youth, and a stronger adopted in September 2013. commitment for quality internships at national level. The Forum continued to enhance cooperation with institutional partners, organising a public event in cooperation with Eurofound and the EP Youth Intergroup on ‘Youth Disengagement – what costs and what remedies?’

36 37 Quality Internships and Apprenticeships

(28 February, Brussels). to President Hollande as The Youth Employment Brussels). This event - well- A meeting on Quality Jobs with well as to the Minister for Package included the launch attended by the Commission, 13 member organisations was Employment, Sapin, and the of a consultation of EU MEPs, businesses and promoted alongside this event, Commissioner for Employment social partners on the Quality interns themselves – was the with the aim of paving the way and Social Affairs, Andor. Framework for Traineeships. culmination of the Forum’s of developing the content of a Although the document lobbying to the Commission publication on quality jobs for The Youth Summit coincided endorsed much of the Forum’s to endorse the quality criteria young people. with the Intergovernmental quality criteria, the Forum of the Charter in their Summit on youth employment, expressed its disappointment Council Recommendation During 2013 the Youth organised by the President of that an immediate decision proposal Quality Framework Forum updated its positions . The three-day youth on Quality Internships was not for Traineeships which was to take into account the event was very successful, both reached. Besides this, the published in December. radically different situation in terms of the mobilisation Forum successfully worked on The Forum reacted, welcoming of young people in Europe of young people, and of mainstreaming the Charter the measures but expressing post-crisis: the new Policy institutional advocacy. In with businesses: contacts were disappointment that the issue Paper on Youth Employment December 2013 the Youth reestablished with the British of remuneration was left un- was well received by social Forum finished the report on Chambers of Commerce; tackled. On apprenticeships, partners and the European measures to combat youth a new partnership with the the Youth Forum followed, institutions and Member unemployment on a national Adecco Group was formed and in close cooperation with Organisations. Following and Europe level. In late 2013 following Microsoft’s signing OBESSU, the institutional the specific lobbying efforts The Youth Forum also liaised of the Charter in 2012, a new developments on the European conducted with National Youth with its Members to create a project was started by CSR Alliance for Apprenticeships, Councils around the ad-hoc Youth Guarantee Toolkit’ on the Europe, Microsoft and the and attended the launch ministerial meeting in the role of Youth Organisations in Forum. event in Leipzig (July 2), summer (3 July, Berlin) the the Design and Implementation signing a joint pledge with Youth Forum launched its new of the Youth Guarantee in The first outcome of this was Microsoft on promoting quality publication on quality jobs Europe. a self-assessment tool to apprenticeships for young for young people at the Youth facilitate the implementation people. Summit for Quality Jobs in of the Charter by employers Paris in November. The Forum whose preliminary results presented the publication were presented at a round table in the EP (14 November,

3838 39 Youth Rights and Anti-discrimination

The Youth Forum has Representations to the In the framework of the mission In the field of Anti- concentrated its efforts in Council of Europe striving to New York for the UN General Discrimination the Youth Forum catching the momentum of the for a political commitment Assembly, the Youth Forum actively contributed to the institutional processes going on and opening a debate on the had the occasion to meet with lobby towards the Member in the Council of Europe also different legal and non-legal Human Rights officers in the States and the EU presidencies with the aim of safeguarding options in this concern. OHCHR and to start discussing aimed at the adoption of a EU the main results achieved in possible ways to contribute to a horizontal Directive combating recent years in the field of The peak of this effort was wider constructive debate in the discrimination based on any youth rights. Following the the lobby meetings with UN system. grounds. failure of the Conference of 14 different Permanent This process was hampered Ministers responsible for Youth Representations (7 October, Evidence collection and by political and technical held in September 2012 – in ), the roundtable promotion of a genuine constraints that make the April 2013 the Parliamentary with experts coming from the rights based approach has adoption unlikely to happen Assembly adopted a relevant bodies of the Council progressed further: the within the end of the current Recommendation asking the of Europe, the African Youth publication "The international European Parliament mandate, Committee of Ministers take Charter and the Ibero-american law on youth rights" has therefore the Forum has action to enhance Member Convention on youth rights been updated and revised; promoted joint debates with States’ capacity to evaluate (26 October, Strasbourg) and cooperation with the the members of the NGOs young people’s access to rights, the ad hoc task force meeting Fundamental Rights Agency coalition on Anti-Discrimination prevent the violations of these attended by 10 representatives has been established in view and a capacity building event rights, and consider innovative of YFJ MOs which discussed of their study on the majority for its Member Organisations ways to empower young people the possible advocacy follow of EU population to be started (15 & 16 December, Brussels). in accessing their rights, up actions in the field of in 2014; training on RBA has Finally, the Forum hired a including through the launch of youth rights (26-27 October, been held for the Secretariat researcher with the aim of a binding legal instrument. Strasbourg). In addition, the of the Forum (Leuven, 9 and promoting a survey on multiple Youth Forum contributed to an 10 April) providing insights on and age-based discrimination The Youth Forum lobbied experts’ meeting on the rights how to fully adopt RBA in the cases in Europe. the main bodies in of young people organised by Forum’s work. charge of discussing the the Office of the United Nations Recommendation and High Commissioner for Human addressed all the Permanent Rights (16-17 July, Geneva).

4040 41 Education Mobility

The advocacy work of the Forum principles behind our call. The On 25 March 2013, the from the LIBE Committee on education policy during 2013 paper is the result of the inputs Commission published a of the European Parliament focused on the follow up of gathered during consultations proposal for a new Recast actively took part in the two main policy processes: the with member organisations and Directive on Conditions breakfast meeting on Freedom Commission's Communication external experts (Ad-Hoc Task force of Entry for Third-Country of Movement promoted by on “Rethinking Education: on Quality Education, 9-10 April; National. After the publishing the Forum (4th December, investing in skills for better socio- April’s COMEM; online consultation, of the Reaction & Demands for Brussels). Members continued economic outcomes”, and the September). Cooperation with Improvement on this proposal being actively involved in the 2012 Council Recommendation UNESCO was strengthened as in April, the Forum reached process by implementing on validation of non-formal and part of our advocy work for quality out to the Study Group of the events and projects with the informal learning. The Forum education and the post-2015 European and Economic Social Youth Forum Mobility Micro teamed up with EUCIS-LLL in the agenda for education. The study Committee, the European Grants. The Working Group organisation of advocacy events in on “The Impact of Non-Formal Parliament's Committee on on Mobility that successfully the Parliament concerning quality Education in Youth Organisations Civil Liberties, Justice and met in May and October education and partnerships for on Young People’s Employability” Home Affairs (LIBE), and (kindly co-hosted by EFIL) was lifelong learning. As a result of its continued to raise high interest relevant Council representative. continuously included in the advocacy work for the validation of among youth organisations as well Thanks to the coordinated advocacy process and related non-formal and informal learning, as key stakeholders in the field and the Forum was invited to join the it has been referred to in a wide advocacy efforts, many Forum activities. Simultaneously European Qualifications Framework range of events related to both demands have been considered the Forum continued its Advisory Board and contribute education and youth employment. in institutional reports and involvement in the Steering to the process of developing the Further capacity building was amendments, especially in the Group of the European guidelines on implementation of provided to our members on the report of the LIBE committee Platform for Learning Mobility validation systems by Member Quality Assurance of Non-Formal as adopted on November 7th. (EPLM) and contributed to States. Consultations with Education (25-29 September other processes such as the member organisations were 2013, Mollina, Spain). The Forum As a result, representatives European Commission’s open initiated to gather their views on developed a Manual on Quality from the DG Home Affairs, consultation on improving the this process. A policy paper on Assurance of NFE as a support the European Commission, procedure for obtaining short- quality education was adopted tool for the implementation of the Lithuanian Presidency stay Schengen visas. at the Council of Members in the framework; around 1000 and the shadow November. The paper defines our copies were distributed to youth understanding on what quality organisations and key stakeholders education means and the driving in the field.

4242 43 04 INSTITUTIONS

In 2013, continuing its efforts to strengthen its position as an agenda-setter on youth affairs, the maintained regular, frequent and close cooperation with the bodies directly in charge of youth affairs within European Union institutions, Council of Europe and the United Nations. With a view to mainstream youth policy and increase political attention to youth issues, the European Youth Forum also developed new contacts and cooperation with representatives of other policy areas, as well as high level officials, notably during its now yearly YO!Fest

44 45 The relations with institutions do not have a specific. Critical Success Factor, but contribute to each of the chapter’s European Union Critical Success Factor:

1 A strong European initiative to strengthen youth participation in The YO!Fest 2013 (Brussels, 30-31 May 2013) was the main decision-making processes at all levels, and inclusion of a chapter on highlight of the year when it comes to the European Youth intergenerational justice in the programmes of political parties: Forum relations with European Union. The Forum’s annual • The YO!Fest, the regular events organised in the Parliament with the political festival was a great success with more than 10.000 intergroup and the on-going cooperation or advocacy towards MEPs people participating in a mix of policy debates, concerts, helped to make youth visible and high on the Parliament’s political agenda non-formal activities, culminating with the presence of the in 2013, setting positive ground for the European Parliament elections highest political representation. The President of the European campaign. Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Commissioner for 2 More recognition and more and better targeted administrative funding Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla for youth organisations, through the development of new and current Vassiliou, the Vice President of the European Parliament, European Union and Council of Europe financial programmes and other Isabelle Durant and many other institutional and political instruments (legal basis): representatives joined the event to present their vision for youth • The on-going advocacy on the Multiannual financial framework allowed and exchange with young people. securing substantial funding for youth in the new generation of EU programmes, despite a generally difficult context The YO!Fest created a positive ground for further cooperation • The cooperation in the Council of Europe youth sector enabled taking first with institutions that were not, until then, among the Forum’s steps towards the recognition of volunteer-time contribution in the grants regular contacts. of the European Youth Foundation Being organised in the frame of the European Youth Week, 3 A strong European institutional initiative that will increase political and it also reinforced the cooperation with our usual partners in financial investment in youth employment: the European Commission. Among other topics, the YO!Fest • Regular advocacy towards Members of the European Parliament and highlighted the need for investing in youth and the general actions towards the European Council led to the granting of funds to the LoveYouthFuture campaign, while it clearly put youth as one of fight against youth unemployment from 2014 on, while the EU has put the main topics of the EU’s political agenda. The YO!Fest also forward several measures to ease the transition of young people from enabled us to increase the visibility of youth issues towards education to work, including the Youth Guarantee and a still to be adopted wider Civil Society in Brussels. quality framework for internships 4 Strengthened inclusion of the Forum’s members in its advocacy work In parallel, the Forum established cooperation with the European and external representation, and increased proactiveness of the members Parliament towards the European Youth Event in May 2014 in contributing to the work of the platform: to highlight the topics of youth participation in elections and • Members have been involved in many different advocacy processes and decision-making. activities, whether in the Council of Europe, United Nations or European Union, and got support from the Forum in doing so.

4646 47 From early 2013, the European Youth Forum was in contact political events in the Parliament, with the aim of keeping with European Parliament services regarding the organisation parliamentarians' attention to youth issues high. These of an unprecedented European Youth Event in Strasbourg, May meetings each addressed a specific topic, among others the 2014. This event is indeed expected to bring several thousands post-2015 development agenda (Brussels, 27 June 2013), of young people to the official premises of the European quality internships (Brussels, 14 November 2013) and the Parliament in Strasbourg to exchange their views on the cooperation between national and European Parliaments on European Union and its future. The European Youth Forum has youth employment (Brussels, 5 December 2013). Such events actively engaged in the preparation of their event and offered gave the opportunity to bring young people into the European to organise its next YO!Fest during it. It also ensured a strong Parliament and offered them the opportunity to discuss with presence of its member organisations in the event and made major political and institutional actors, such as the United political inputs to its programme. Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, the European Parliament President, Martin Schulz The European Youth Forum cooperated with the Intergroup and Vice President Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez as well as on Youth throughout 2013. Together we organised several members of the European Parliament from several committees.

In addition to these various events the Forum fulfilled its role as the voice of young people in Europe, ensuring that those designing the policies which impact their lives, hear their message. The European Youth Forum proactively contributed to crucial political processes ranging from the securing of funding available for youth organisations in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 to the adoption of the Youth Guarantee, and maintained the pressure on the European Council and institutions in general to act in favour of youth employment. The European Youth Forum successfully advocated towards the adoption of a quality framework for internships in Europe, proposed in December by the European Commission and stood for the mobility of young volunteers in the current process of revising the directives on the access of third country nationals to the EU.

48 49 Council of Europe

During its annual cooperation meeting with Council of Europe view of the Committee of Ministers reply to the Parliamentary bodies early in the year, the European Youth Forum met with Assembly’s recommendations. several stakeholders to plan the cooperation in 2013. This In cooperation with the Advisory Council on Youth and the allowed the Forum to prepare the work for the recognition European Youth Foundation, the European Youth Forum strongly of youth rights with the Parliamentary Assembly, to plan supported the recognition of volunteer-time contribution in the the Statutory bodies’ meetings and renewal with the Youth grants allocated by the European Youth Foundation, leading to Department and to identify possibility for cooperation on the the recognition of the principle by the Joint Council on Youth European Youth Capital title with the Congress of Local and in October and preparation in the Programming Committee for Regional Authorities. an effective mechanism in the grant applications’ system to be implemented from 2014 onwards. The European Youth Forum actively participated in the bi-annual meetings of the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe’s Considering that 2013 was the last year of the mandate for youth sector, both in the Advisory Council and Joint Council on the members of the Advisory Council, the European Youth Youth, (Budapest, 2-5 April 2013, Strasbourg, 13-16 October Forum also contributed to the process of nominations of 2013) and at the Programming Committee on Youth, (Budapest, the members 2014-2015. To ensure better coordination of 3-5 June 2013, Strasbourg, 4-6 June 2013). Within these the selection procedure between member organisations and bodies, the European Youth Forum supported the work of the organisations selected directly by the Council of Europe, the Advisory Council, notably in their cooperation with ministerial Forum anticipated the elections of member organisations officials. It also ensured the link between the statutory representatives to the Advisory Council to the April COMEM bodies’ work and processes at stake in other structures of (Brussels 19-20 April 2013) to allow an earlier start of the the Council of Europe, such as the Parliamentary Assembly next Advisory Council’s term. The Forum also engaged in the recommendations 2015(2013) on young people’s access to preparation of the joint training of the new Advisory Council rights, adopted on 24 April 2013. together with the Council of Europe Youth Department, to take place in January 2014. Next to this structural role, the European Youth Forum specifically advocated various bodies of the Council of Europe, as well as Members States’ permanent representations, in

50 51 United Nations

Throughout 2013, the Forum regularly met with the newly The Forum facilitated and coordinated the representation nominated UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Youth, of its member organisations at the UN General Assembly in charge of driving forward the UN priorities on youth and and other relevant UN meetings. It held the United Nations promoting young people’s effective participation in the UN Advocacy Meeting (Brussels, 28-29 June 2013), attended by system. The Forum also addressed the Secretary-General the UN Secretary-General Special Envoy on Youth, to develop himself, Ban Ki-moon on the need for the UN to make further a joint strategy for advocacy in the next session of the UN efforts to ensure that youth is meaningfully engaged in security General Assembly and other UN meetings, on Post-2015 and and peace processes. Sustainable Development.

Promoting the enhancement of youth development and the The Forum has enhanced its cooperation with the United effective engagement of young people and youth organisations Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in the UN system remained at the heart of the Youth Forum’s (UNESCO), by involving the institution in the Quality Education advocacy towards the United Nations. It continued advocating Ad-hoc Task Force and through an active role on the 8th specifically for a structured mechanism of youth participation UNESCO Youth Forum (Paris, 29-31 October 2013) as part of in the definition, implementation and evaluation of its youth- the Action Project jury. The Forum also explored opportunities related programmes, actions and activities. This work was of collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund notably reflected in the Youth 21 Initiative, which includes the (UNFPA), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme proposal of establishing a UN Permanent Forum on Youth, in (UN-HABITAT), and the United Nations Regional Information the reform of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Centre (UNRIC), in common areas of work. and the debate around its Youth Forum and in the work of the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD).

The IANYD, in a positive move reflecting the Secretary- General’s willingness to work with and for young people, developed a System-wide Action Plan on Youth (Youth-SWAP). This action plan provides strategic guidance to the UN system as a whole in its work on youth within the framework of the World Programme of Action for Youth, and it promotes joint programmatic work on youth development.

52 53 05 COMMUNICATIONs

In 2013, the European Youth Forum continued to consolidate its position as the voice of young people across Europe and as the “go-to” organisation on youth-related issues. We raised our profile through increased media coverage in national publications, as well as the EU-focused media. We hosted and launched high profile and successful events and campaigns in 2013, which led to considerable presence in the media and “buzz” on social media.

YO!Fest 2013 was a particular highlight of the year, with over 50 different pieces of media coverage (including online, print, radio and television). Yo!Fest featured on websites from all over Europe including those of media, institutions and youth organisations. Social media promotion of Yo!Fest and engagement with attendees was also strong.

5454 55 In the News We were again in the news and creating a buzz on Social media social media for the launch of League of Young Voters, 2013 was a year in which we really established the Youth Forum which saw a hot air balloon being launched from the as the voice on EU youth policy on social media. We have European Parliament. This generated media coverage continued to grow our followers on Twitter and to engage with in publications and online outlets across the world. more people through our Facebook community.

In November, the Youth Summit for Quality Jobs took place in A highlight of the year on social media was that during Yo!Fest, Paris and was attended by French President Francois Hollande, on 31st May, the #YOFest13 hashtag was a trending topic in which led to strong interest in the EU-wide media. This event, . Over 1,400 people liked the Facebook page and more along with announcement of Ganja, as European Youth Capital than 146,000 connected to the mobile site. for 2016, led to a surge of mentions of the European Youth Forum in the media, with over 80 mentions in just this one The launch of the League of Young Voters was another key point month – the highest level of 2013. of the year in terms of social media activity; President Barroso himself tweeted the launch of the League of Young Voters, reaching over 40,000 people.

Publications

Annual Report 2012 YO! #1 / 2013 – Elections & Democracy YO! #2 / 2013 – A Dreamy Utopia YO! #3 / 2013 – Youth and the City Quality Jobs for Young People report Non-Formal Education and Employability booklet Non-Formal Education and Employability manual Youth Rights Expertise booklet Internship flyer

During the year, the Youth Policy Watch was sent 22 times to over 5,000 contacts, relevant stakeholders and decision-makers, reaching its 92nd edition at the end of December 2013.

56 57 Online media hits by country 2013

Georgia 1 Belgium 65 Switzerland 4 France 18 Belarus 2 Sweden 6 Our media presence in numbers Finland 3 Azerbaijan 21 Sri Lanka 1 Fiji 2 United States 23 Spain 61 1 European media partnership with Euranet Denmark 3 Slovakia 2 United Kingdom 24 26 Press Releases Czech Republic 4 TV appearances Russian 6 Cyprus 4 10 radio interviews Federation 5 China 1 United 10 print press reports Arab Emirates 1 Qatar 4 460 online news reports 8 Turkey 5 7 Italy 103 Thailand 1 Luxemburg 6

Online media hits by month 2013 Malta 9 Malaysia 2 Jordan 2

90 Ireland 11 81 Greece 22 India 3 72 Germany 3 52 54 51 45 45 43 35 36 35 Online media hits by language 2013 21 19 15 18 12 2 Finnish 3 German 3 Lithuanian 1

2013 - 01 2013 - 02 2013 - 03 2013 - 04 2013 - 05 2013 - 06 2013 - 07 2013 - 08 2013 - 09 2013 - 10 2013 - 11 2013 - 12 2014 - 01 French 20 Italian 109 Malay 1 *European Youth Forum Czech 3 Modern Greek 23 Norvegian 1 Danish 2 Slovak 2 Polish 7 Dutch 11 Swedish 4 Russian 8 5858 Azerbaijani59 1 English 179 Spanish 73 facebook Highlights of the year in tweets

Massive congratulations to Ganja who have been crowned European 81% of fans between 18-34 years old Youth Capital 2016! #EYC2016 #yfj Top 3 countries of fans: Turkey, Italy, Greece Top 3 cities of fans: Brussels (Belgium), Istanbul We are in Thessaloniki for our Council of Members meeting where (Turkey), Baku (Azerbaijan young delegates from across Europe will join us. #COMEM@ Thess2014

Most shared stories: From Microsoft Europe: Congrats to @Youth_Forum for great #qualityjobs event @OECD in Paris this week! we were honored to sponsor&participate #youthspark @SylLaf “Family reunions are always fun, the European Youth Forum Council of Members this weekend in Brussels in no exception From Young Voters EU: LYV message has now entered (20/04/13) – reach of 21,000, 475 likes, comments zero-gravity with a message out of this world! Join the movement! and shares. “Young people are ready to work, but their http://is.gd/hJuWzT #youngvoters unemployment rate is double that of the average” (16/05/13) – reach of 12,300, 175 likes, comments and shares. French President François Hollande meets with youth orgs at “Youth Summit for Quality Jobs” conference at the Elysée: http:// twitter is.gd/8lgTIf MT @MartinSchulz Met EU youth organizations in Berlin. 7.233 followers (up from 4,671 followers 31/12/12) We're creating enourmous expecations. Now we must deliver! http://is.gd/d4r4ig

Trending hash-tags 5000 people rocked the @europarl_en yesterday at the #YOFest13 - #youngvoters #yofest13. Stay tuned on http://www.yofest.eu for today!

From Martin Schulz: I'll be with @Youth_Forum tmrw to call for youth to be at centre of EU & make sure govs put money where their mouth is! #YOFest13

From President Barroso: W/ Princess Laurentien, Androulla @vassiliouEU & astronaut Paolo #Nespoli/ League Young Voters @Youth_Forum pic.twitter.com/majD0gk82f

60 61 06 INCLUSIVE PLATFORM

Membership Services

Youth Forum Academy A successful first edition of the Youth Forum Academy was organised in , Belgium from 13 – 23 June. 115 participants met over the course of ten days to exchange ideas and best practices, participate in various training sessions and contribute to the work of the European Youth Forum. It brought together participants from seven meetings: the membership growth project, the funding workshop, the NYC sustainability training, the YWD working group meeting, communications meeting, the Secretary-Generals Day and the pool of trainers meeting.

62 63 Free software donations Membership Survey

On 22 January 2013 the European Youth Forum signed a In November 2013 we closed the on-going process of the strategic partnership with Microsoft Europe to promote the annual membership survey for 2012-2013. 71 (72%) member rights of young people and streamline investing in youth as a organisations responded, with 60% completing the full survey, priority, also for the private sector. including 25 NYCs and 33 INGYOs. The European Youth Forum will use the outcomes and information gathered through the Through this new strategic partnership with Microsoft the Membership Survey to improve the ways in which it supports its European Youth Forum had the opportunity to receive free Member Organisations, allowing for a better tailored approach software donations for our member organisations' offices as well and a stronger focus on the needs expressed by the MOs. as the offices of the member organisations.

The call for free software donations for member organisations The Pool of Trainers received requests from a total of 126 organisations and over 3000 software packages were donated to our MOs and MOMOs. To support the work of the platform itself and its Member Organisations the European Youth Forum has a Pool of Trainers and Facilitators. The European Youth Forum’s Pool of Trainers aims to deliver training and facilitating for Youth Forum events or events of our institutional partners and use its expertise and knowledge to support the Member Organisations.

64 65 01 L ist of trainers and Facilitators (maPARTICIPATIONndate from April 2013 to March 2015): DES JEUNES Akgul Musa Youth of European Nationalities - Y-E-N Jakubek Elzbieta (Don Bosco Youth Net) Adelmann Georg Service Civil International - SCI Kirjazovaite Lina European Educational Exchanges - Youth For Bal Ufuk Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de Understanding - EEE-YFU l'Europe AEGEE Landmark Linn Sobriety Friendship and Peace - ACTIVE Maldiski Aleksandra Organising Bureau of European School Students Betrian Júlia Consell Nacional de la Joventut de Catalunya - CNJC Unions - OBESSU Castineiras Pablo European Alliance of Young Men's Christian Mamo Nicholas International Federation of Medical Student Associations - YMCA Associations -IFMSA Mandozzi Sara Alliance of European Voluntary Service Cicala Federica Forum Nazionale Giovani - FNG Organisations - Alliance Comet i Kortman Teo Federation of Young European Greens - FYEG Manevski Stefan Young European Federalists - JEF Curosu Doru Consiliul National Al Tineretului Din Moldova - Miginis Nerijus Lietuvos Jaunimo Organizaciju Taryba - LiJOT CNTM Mursec Simona Mladinski Svet Slovenije - MSS Retore Sven Youth for Exchange and Understanding - YEU de Lange Christel Nationale Jeugdraad - JEUGDRAAD Santos Dúlio European Federation for Intercultural Learning - EFIL Savishchava Darya Belarusian Union of Youth and Children’s Public Ferreira Ana Conselho Nacional de Juventude - CNJ Associations - RADA Fischer Carmen Österreichische Kinder- und Jugendvertretung - ÖJV Silva Ana International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth - MI JARC Fischer Martin Young European Federalists -JEF Szalai Zita World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts - Galli Viviana European Federation of Intercultural Learning - EFIL WAGGGS Trojánek Pavel Czech Council of Children and Youth - CRDM Hoffström Eelin Rural Youth Europe - RYE Urb Jaan Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit - ENL

66 67 Wot rking struc ures Mobility: For the cycle 2013-2014 the working structures methodology was Carla Filetti Erasmus Student Network - ESN fixed to better serve the new Work Plan and the Strategic Priorities. Aurelia Petrov National Youth Council of Moldova - CNTM Alongside the fixed MO-based working groups the following ad Ivan Vasiliev European Educational Exchanges Youth for hoc task forces have been established: Youth Rights, Volunteering, Understanding – EEE-YFU European Elections, Structures Dialogue, Youth Work. Elisa Briga European Federation for Intercultural Learning - EFIL

The composition of the fixed working groups is as following: Roland Susman International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational - International - IFM/SEI Evgeniya Aliyeva Belarusian Union of Youth and Children's Youth Work: Public Associations - RADA Education: Ekaterine Tsvariani National Youth Council Of Georgia - NYCOG Gintare Alaburdaite Lithuanian Youth Council - LiJOT Sebastian Vogt German Committee for International Youth Sara Bertocci World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Work - DNK Scouts - WAGGGS Marko Boko Croatian Youth Network - MMH Elisabeth Gehrke European Student Information Bureau - Viktorija Matuzaite International Young Naturefriends - IYNF ESIB Gerd Tarand Estonian Youth Council - ENL Sebastian Seehauser Youth of European Nationalities - YEN Emmanuelle Bertrand Comité pour les relations nationales et internationales de jeunesse et d’éducation populaire - CNAJEP

Marko Grdosic Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l'Europe - AEGEE Dejan Bojanic Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions - OBESSU Funding: Miha Mohorko Mladinski Svet Slovenije - MSS Tamara Gojkovic Youth Exchange and Understanding - YEU Federico Guerrieri Young European Federalists - JEF John Gilmore European Confederation of Youth Clubs - ECYC Juha-Pekka Nurvala Youth of the European People's Party - YEPP Nicolo Pranzini World Organisation of the Scout Movement - WOSM

68 69 07 Finances and Administration

Finances 2013 represented the beginning of an increase in the amount invested a cycle in terms of European Youth in the activities and in the Forum’s Forum management as the Board advocacy processes, and an was starting its mandate, and a improvement capacity to execute bi-annual Work Plan, for 2013-14, the activities planned for 2013. Administration was starting. In terms of finances, a central focus must be put on As required by the EU financial budget execution over the year. regulations, and the agreement, there was not a surplus coming The Youth in Action Programme, out of the funds allocated to the which includes, within Action 4.2, operating grant agreement. the support to the European Youth On the remainder of the YFJ overall Forum, settled at a maximum of budget, not linked to the operating 2013 €2.500.000 for 2013. grant agreement with DG EAC under the Youth in Action Program, In what concerns the execution the total amount was €3.381.309 of the agreement with DG EAC, and there was a surplus of there was a total execution of the €806,38. Budget, meaning that the total amount applicable to the EU grant It is important to reiterate that amounts to €2.942.531 with the the Youth Forum strives for final EU contribution calculated at correctness and clarity in its €2.500.000. accounts, which is essential for Consequently, there is no grant both the members and the Forum’s reduction. If we compare to partner institutions; this is why the previous years as 2012 it amounted auditing procedures in place are €26.191,33, in 2011 it amounted so significant, as much the internal 0,65% (€15.051,53), or as 2010 audit and the consultancy role of it amounted 2,98% (€69.362), the Financial Control Commission, or as 2009 where the reduction as the external auditors, Ernst & amounted to 6,31% (€184.859). Young (appointed by the General These positive results are due to Assembly in Kyiv). 70 71 Grant Execution Overall Execution

The biggest portion of the Budget refers to the running Expenditures costs of the Programs and Activities of Advocacy and Policy The overall expenditures of the Budget represent €3.380.502. Development 50,2%. The biggest portion of the execution refers to the running costs of the annual plan under the Grant Agreement with EC, The Operational Costs represent 34,5% and refer to the running Programs and Activities of 87% (€2.942.531). and legal costs of the organisation, as well as employment The European Youth Event 2014, represent an execution of costs. 1,17% (€39.459,79) and Other Projects costs represent 11,83%

The costs with Governance represent 15,3% and include all the costs with the Statutory and Governance bodies

15,3% 1,17%

34,5% 11,83%

50,2% 87%

72 7373 Incomes Overall income was €3.381.309, almost all of the Youth Forum’s income stems from the annual grants from international institutions.

73,9% (€2.500.000) of the total income in 2013 came from the grant from DG Education and Culture, 1,65% (55.828€) from the European Parliament separate in two Grant/project agreements and the European Youth Even 2014 with 1,17% (39.459€) also from the European Parliament. While around 2,74% (92.773€) was from grants by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

The Membership fees contributed to 4,5% (€152.780) and the Volunteer Time Contribution contributed to 4,5% (€153.780), Partnerships and other incomes to 11,54% of the overall incomes.

74 7575 08 BOARD MEMBERS

PETER MATJAŠIČ PRESIDENT Coordinating: overall Board work, Chapter 1 Youth Participation, Institutional Relations, Global and Regional Cooperation, Relations with Member Organisations, Press and Communications

GUODA LOMANAITE VICE PRESIDENT Coordinating: Chapter 2 Strong Youth Organisations Lead: Structured Dialogue, EU Advocacy, European Youth Capital, Funding for Youth Work Support: Youth Work Development, Mobility, PPYOs

76 77 01 PARTICIPATION DES LLOYD RUSSELL-MOYLE VICE PRESIDENT Coordination: Chapter 3 Autonomy and Inclusion Lead: CoE Advocacy, International Co-ordination Meeting of JEUNES Youth Organisations Co-ordination, Global Development Policy (Post 2015/Sustainable Development Goals), Cooperation with Latin-America, Youth Organisations Income Generation and ELISE DROUET BOARD MEMBER Cooperatives Lead: Euro-Arab cooperation, Youth Work Development, SEE Support: Funding for Youth Work, UN Advocacy, Environmental Region, Youth Work Policy, Youth Work Capacity Building, Policy Volunteering, Quality Internships Support: EEC region, Youth Work Capacity and Growth, Employment JOHANNA NYMAN BOARD MEMBER Lead: European Elections, League of Young Voters, Youth Rights MÁRCIO BARCELOS BOARD MEMBER Support: Vote at 16 Lead: Cooperation with African region, Non-Formal Education, Quality Education, Citizenship Education MAGGIE DOKUPILOVA (until 31.12.2013) BOARD MEMBER Support: Membership Support and Training Lead: Finances, Vote at 16, Environmental Policy, New Media Support: European Elections, Employment MIROSŁAW KRZANIK BOARD MEMBER Lead: Mobility, Erasmus+ Development & Programme Guide, SANDRA KAMILOVA BOARD MEMBER Roma Youth Action Plan (part of Anti-discrimination) Lead: EEC region, Youth Work Capacity and Growth, Membership Support: Funding for Youth Work, Quality Education, Support and Training, Cooperation with Asia Support: Structured Dialogue, Non-Formal-Education, UN Advocacy JURE ŠTAJNBAHER MEMBRE DU CA Lead: Youth Employment, Internal Inclusion, JERRY DEN HAAN BOARD MEMBER Support: SEE region, Anti-discrimination, Lead: UN Advocacy and Official Youth Delegate Support, Anti- discrimination. Support: Post 2015, ICYMO Co-ordination, Internal Inclusion

78 79 09 SECRETARIAT

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S OFFICE

Secretary-General Giuseppe Porcaro

Assistant to the Secretary-General John Lisney

Communications Coordinator Letizia Gambini (until April) Macarena Rodriguez (May to October)

Communications Officer Thomas Spragg (until October)

Intern Policy Monitoring and Communication Seyi Akiwowo (until July) Liam Beattie (from July)

Membership and Partnerships Officer Jo Deman

81 ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT Alfonso Aliberti (from November) Policy and Advocacy Coordinator (Autonomy and Inclusion) Administrative & Financial Director Giorgio Zecca David Ferreira Institutional Coordinator (EU, CoE and UN) Translator/ Team co-ordinator Antoine Mertzeisen Luc Rummens Project Officer for the EU Structured Dialogue Accountant Bianca Faragau Christine Struys (until September) Stéphane Asse'e (from October) Senior Institutional Officer – UN and Global affairs Vania Freitas Human Resources Coordinator Marie-Aimée Musanase Policy Officer - Employment Marianna Georgallis (from April) Translator / Assistant Anne Debrabandere Policy Officer - Employment James Higgins Secretary/Receptionist Nicole Burlet-Parendel (until January) Policy Officer - Participation Magdalena Kurz Administrative Officer Magdalena Liskova (from February) Policy Officer - Youth Work Capacity Building IT Coordinator Matthias Christensen Estefania Asorey Policy Officer - Educationr POLICV Y AND AD OCACY DEPARTMENT Laura Lopez-Bech

Head of Department European Youth Event team – from October Alix Masson Project Coordinators Policy and Advocacy Coordinator (Youth Participation) Béryl Abols & Tamsin Pearce David Garrahy Project Officer Policy and Advocacy Coordinator (Strong Youth Organisations) Anna Ranki (until October) Francesca Fabbri

82 83